Battery module and battery pack including the same

ABSTRACT

A battery module including: a battery cell stack including a plurality of battery cells and electrode leads protruding in mutually opposite directions; a housing that houses the battery cell stack; and a first busbar frame arranged on one surface of the battery cell stack in a protruding direction of the electrode leads. The first busbar frame includes a first venting-preventing part protruding in a direction between the electrode leads of adjacent battery cells.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a US national phase of international application No.PCT/KR2021/013770 filed on Oct. 7, 2021, and claims the benefit ofKorean Patent Application No. 10-2020-0145982 filed on Nov. 4, 2020, thedisclosures of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety asif fully set forth herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a battery module and a battery packincluding the same, and more particularly to a battery module havingenhanced safety, and a battery pack including the same.

BACKGROUND

A secondary battery has attracted much attention as an energy source invarious products such as a mobile device and an electric vehicle. Thesecondary battery is a potent energy resource that can replace the useof existing products using fossil fuels, and is in the spotlight as anenvironment-friendly energy source because it does not generateby-products due to energy use.

Recently, along with a continuous rise in need for a large-capacitysecondary battery structure, including the utilization of the secondarybattery as an energy storage source, there is a growing demand for abattery pack having a multi-module structure which is an assembly ofbattery modules in which a plurality of secondary batteries areconnected in series or in parallel.

A common method of configuring a battery module composed of a pluralityof battery cells including a plurality of battery cells connected inseries or in parallel includes adding other components to at least onebattery module to configure a battery pack. Since the battery cellsconstituting these medium- or large-sized battery modules are composedof chargeable/dischargeable secondary batteries, such a high-output andlarge-capacity secondary battery generates a large amount of heat duringa charging and discharging process.

The battery module may include a battery cell stack in which a pluralityof battery cells are stacked, a housing for the battery cell stack, anda pair of end plates for covering the front and rear surfaces of thebattery cell stack.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional battery module.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 , the conventional battery module 10 can bemanufactured by housing a battery cell stack (not shown) in the housing20 and then joining the end plate 40 to the open portion of the housing20. A terminal busbar opening 41H, where a part of the terminal busbaris exposed, and a module connector opening 42H, where a part of themodule connector is exposed, can be formed in the end plate 40. Theterminal busbar opening 41H is for guiding the high voltage (HV)connection of the battery module 10, and the terminal busbar exposedthrough the terminal busbar opening 41H can be connected to anotherbattery module or a BDU (battery disconnect unit). The module connectoropening 42H is for guiding the LV (Low voltage) connection of thebattery module 10, and the module connector exposed through the moduleconnector opening 42H is connected to a BMS (battery management system)and can transmit voltage information, temperature information, or thelike of the battery cell.

FIG. 2 is a view of the conventional battery pack in which the batterymodule of FIG. 1 is mounted at the time of ignition. FIG. 3 is across-sectional view along the line A-A′ of FIG. 2 , which is across-sectional view showing the appearance of a flame that affectsadjacent battery modules during ignition of a conventional batterymodule.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 , the conventional battery module 10includes a battery cell stack in which a plurality of battery cells 11are stacked, a housing 20 that houses the battery cell stack, and a pairof end plates 40 that are formed on the front and rear surfaces of thebattery cell stack.

When physical, thermal or electrical damage, including overcharging,occurs in the battery cell, the internal pressure of the battery cell 11increases and exceeds a limit value of the fusion strength of thebattery cell 11. In this case, the high-temperature heat, gas, and flamegenerated in the plurality of battery cells 11 can be discharged to theoutside of the battery module 10.

The high-temperature heat, gas and flame may be discharged through theopenings 41H and 42H formed in the end plate 40. However, in the batterypack structure in which a plurality of battery modules 10 are arrangedso that the end plates 40 face each other, the high-temperature heat,gas and flame ejected from one battery module 10 may affect adjacentbattery modules 10. Thereby, the terminal busbar or the like formed onthe end plate 40 of the adjacent battery modules may be damaged, andhigh-temperature heat, gas and flame may enter the interior of thebattery module 10 via the openings formed in the adjacent end plates 40of the battery module 10 to damage other electrical components includingthe plurality of battery cells 11. In addition, this leads to heatpropagation to the adjacent battery modules 10, which causes a chainignition in the battery pack.

SUMMARY

It is an objective of the present disclosure to provide a battery modulecapable of dispersing high-temperature heat and flame discharged when anignition phenomenon occurs in the battery module, and a battery packincluding the same.

However, the problem to be solved by embodiments of the presentdisclosure is not limited to the above-described problems, and can bevariously expanded within the scope of the technical idea included inthe present disclosure.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided abattery module comprising: a battery cell stack in which a plurality ofbattery cells including electrode leads protruding in mutually oppositedirections are stacked; a housing that houses the battery cell stack;and a first busbar frame arranged on one surface of the battery cellstack in a protrusion direction of the electrode leads, wherein thefirst busbar frame comprises a first venting-preventing part protrudingin a direction between the electrode leads of adjacent battery cells.

The first venting-preventing part may fill a space between the electrodeleads of adjacent battery cells.

The first busbar frame may include a cushioning member attached to asurface of the first venting-preventing part facing the battery cellstack.

At least one of a busbar, a terminal busbar, and a module connector maybe mounted onto the first busbar frame.

The battery module may further include a first end plate that is joinedto the housing while covering the first busbar frame, and the first endplate may be formed with an opening where at least one of the terminalbusbar and the module connector is exposed.

The battery module may further include a second busbar frame arranged onan opposite surface of the battery cell stack in a direction opposite tothe direction of protrusion of the electrode leads.

At least one of a busbar, a terminal busbar, and a module connector maybe mounted onto the second busbar frame.

The battery module may further include a second end plate that is joinedto the housing while covering the second busbar frame, and the secondend plate may be formed with an opening where at least one of theterminal busbar and the module connector is exposed.

The battery module may further include a second end plate that is joinedto the housing while covering the second busbar frame, and a ventinghole for gas discharge may be formed in the second end plate.

The second busbar frame may include a second venting-preventing partthat protrudes in a direction between the electrode leads of adjacentbattery cells among the plurality of battery cells.

A gas discharge port may be formed on the upper surface of the housing.

According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a gasdischarge-suppressing structure is provided on one surface of thebattery cell stack within the battery module, and thus high-temperatureheat, gas, flame, and the like, discharged when an ignition phenomenonoccurs in the battery module can be discharged in a desired direction.By dispersing high-temperature heat, gas, and flame in this way, damageto the battery module facing the battery module can be minimized.

The effects of the present disclosure are not limited to the effectsmentioned above and additional other effects not described above will beclearly understood from the description of the appended claims by thoseskilled in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional battery module;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of the conventional battery pack in which thebattery module of FIG. 1 is mounted at the time of ignition;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along the line A-A′ of FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a battery module according to anembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the battery module of FIG. 4 ;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a battery cell included in the batterymodule of FIG. 5 ;

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of a first busbar frame and aplurality of battery cells according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a surface of the first busbar frame ofFIG. 7 facing the plurality of battery cells at different angles;

FIG. 9 is a partial plan view of the first busbar frame and batterycells of FIG. 7 as viewed from the xy plane in the −Z axis direction;

FIG. 10 is a partial plan view of the first busbar frame combined withthe plurality of battery cells of FIG. 9 ;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the second end plate of the batterymodule of FIG. 4 when viewed at different angles from the front;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a battery module according to amodified embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a battery module according to amodified embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a first busbar frame, a second busbarframe, and a battery cell stack included in the battery module of FIG.13 ; and

FIG. 15 is a partial plan view of a first busbar frame to which acushioning member is attached according to a modified embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present disclosure will bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so thatthose skilled in the art can easily carry out them. The presentdisclosure may be modified in various different ways, and is not limitedto the embodiments set forth herein.

A description of parts not related to the description will be omittedherein for clarity, and like reference numerals designate like elementsthroughout the description.

Further, in the drawings, the size and thickness of each element arearbitrarily illustrated for convenience of description, and the presentdisclosure is not necessarily limited to those illustrated in thedrawings. In the drawings, the thickness of layers, regions, and thelike, are exaggerated for clarity. In the drawings, for convenience ofdescription, the thicknesses of some layers and regions are exaggerated.

In addition, it will be understood that when an element such as a layer,film, region, or plate is referred to as being “on” or “above” anotherelement, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elementsmay also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to asbeing “directly on” another element, it means that other interveningelements are not present. Further, the word “on” or “above” meansdisposed on or below a reference portion, and does not necessarily meanbeing disposed on the upper end of the reference portion toward theopposite direction of gravity.

Further, throughout the description, when a portion is referred to as“including” a certain component, it means that the portion can furtherinclude other components, without excluding the other components, unlessotherwise stated.

Further, throughout the description, when referred to as “planar”, itmeans when a target portion is viewed from the upper side, and whenreferred to as “cross-sectional”, it means when a target portion isviewed from the side of a cross section cut vertically.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a battery module according to anembodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspectiveview of the battery module of FIG. 4 . FIG. 6 is a perspective view of abattery cell included in the battery module of FIG. 5 .

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 6 , a battery module 100 a according to oneembodiment of the present disclosure includes a battery cell stack 120in which a plurality of battery cells 110, each of which includeselectrode leads 111 and 112 protruding in mutually opposite directions,are stacked; a housing 200 that houses the battery cell stack 120; and afirst busbar frame 310 arranged on one surface of the battery cell stack120 in a direction of protrusion of the electrode leads 111.

As illustrated in FIG. 6 , the battery cell 110 is preferably apouch-type battery cell. For example, the battery cell 110 according tothe present embodiment has a structure in which two electrode leads 111and 112 are opposite to each other and protrude from one end 114 a andthe other end 114 b of the cell main body 113, respectively. Morespecifically, the electrode leads 111 and 112 are connected to anelectrode assembly (not shown), and protrude from the electrode assembly(not shown) to the outside of the battery cell 110 in oppositedirections.

On the other hand, the battery cell 110 can be manufactured byconnecting both end parts 114 a and 114 b of the cell case 114 via oneside part 114 c, in a state in which the electrode assembly (not shown)is housed in a cell case 114. In other words, the battery cell 110according to the present embodiment has a total of three sealing parts114 sa, 114 sb and 114 sc, the sealing parts 114 sa, 114 sb and 114 schave a structure sealed by a method such as heat fusion, and theremaining other side part may be formed of a connection part 115. Thecell case 114 may be formed of a laminated sheet containing a resinlayer and a metal layer.

In addition, the connection part 115 may extend long along one edge ofthe battery cell 110, and a protrusion part 110 p of the battery cell110 called a bat-ear may be formed at an end part of the connection part115. Further, while the cell case 114 is sealed with the protrudingelectrode leads 111 and 112 being interposed therebetween, a terracepart 116 may be formed between the electrode leads 111 and 112 and thecell main body 113. That is, the battery cell 110 includes a terracepart 116 formed to extend from the cell case 114 in a protrudingdirection of the electrode leads 111 and 112.

The battery cell stack 120 may include a plurality of batters cells 110,and the plurality of battery cells 110 may be stacked to be electricallyconnected to each other, thereby forming the battery cell stack 120. Asillustrated in FIG. 5 , the plurality of battery cells 110 can bestacked along the y-axis direction to form a battery cell stack 120. Afirst busbar frame 310 may be located on one surface of the battery cellstack 120 in the protruding direction (x-axis direction) of theelectrode leads 111. Although not specifically shown in the figure, asecond busbar frame may be located on the opposite surface of thebattery cell stack 120 in the protruding direction (−x-axis direction)of the electrode leads 112. The battery cell stack 120 and the firstbusbar frame 310 may be housed together with the housing 200. Thehousing 200 can protect the battery cell stack 120 housed inside thehousing 200 and the electrical components connected thereto fromexternal physical impacts.

A thermal conductive resin may be injected between the battery cellstack 120 and the lower surface of the housing 200, and a thermalconductive resin layer (not shown) may be formed between the batterycell stack 120 and the lower part of the housing 200.

On the other hand, the housing 200 can be open in the protrudingdirection of the electrode leads 111 and 112 (x-axis direction, −x-axisdirection), and a first end plate 410 and a second end plate 420 may belocated on opposite open sides of the housing 200, respectively. Thefirst end plate 410 can be joined to the housing 200 while covering thefirst busbar frame 310, and the second end plate 420 can be joined tothe housing 200 while covering the second busbar frame (not shown). Thatis, a first busbar frame 310 may be located between the first end plate410 and the battery cell stack 120, and a second busbar frame (notshown) may be located between the second end plate 420 and the batterycell stack 120. Further, an insulating cover 800 (see FIG. 4 ) forelectrical insulation may be located between the first end plate 410 andthe first busbar frame 310.

The first end plate 410 and the second end plate 420 are located tocover opposite surfaces of the battery cell stack 120, respectively. Thefirst end plate 410 and the second end plate 420 can protect the firstbusbar frame 310 and various electrical components connected theretofrom external impacts. For this purpose, they must have a predeterminedstrength and may include a metal such as aluminum. Further, the firstend plate 410 and the second end plate 420 may be joined to acorresponding edge of the housing 200, respectively, by a method such aswelding.

Next, the structures of the first busbar frame and the firstventing-preventing part according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 7 to 10 .

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of a first busbar frame and batterycells according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 8 is aperspective view of a surface of the first busbar frame of FIG. 7 facingthe battery cells at different angles. FIG. 9 is a partial plan view ofthe first busbar frame and the plurality of battery cells of FIG. 7 asviewed from the xy plane in the −Z axis direction. FIG. 10 is a partialplan view of the combination of the first busbar frame and battery cellsof FIG. 9 .

As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 , the first busbar frame 310 accordingto the present embodiment includes a first venting-preventing part 310Pthat protrudes in a direction between the electrode leads 111 ofadjacent battery cells 110 from among the plurality of battery cells110.

The first busbar frame 310 can be located on one surface of the batterycell stack 120 to cover the battery cell stack 120 and at the same time,guide the connection between the battery cell stack 120 and externaldevices. Specifically, at least one of a busbar, a terminal busbar, anda module connector may be mounted onto the first busbar frame 310.Particularly, at least one of a busbar, a terminal busbar, and a moduleconnector may be mounted onto a surface opposite to the surface of thefirst busbar frame 310 facing the battery cell stack. As an example,FIG. 7 the busbar 510 and the terminal busbar 520 mounted on the firstbusbar frame 310.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 , the electrode lead 111 of each of thebattery cells 110 is bent after passing through a slit 310S formed inthe first busbar frame 310 and can be joined to the busbar 510 or theterminal busbar 520. Further, the electrode lead 111 is bent afterpassing through a slit 510S formed in the busbar 510 or a slit 520S (seeFIG. 7 ) formed in the terminal busbar 510 and can joined to the busbar510 or the terminal busbar 520.

The plurality of battery cells 110 constituting the battery cell stack120 may be connected in series or in parallel by the busbar 510 or theterminal busbar 520, and the plurality of battery cells 110 can beelectrically connected to an external device or circuit through theterminal busbar 520 exposed to the outside of the battery module 100 a.

The first busbar frame 310 may include an electrically insulatingmaterial. The first busbar frame 310 restricts the busbar 510 or theterminal busbar 520 from making contact with the plurality of batterycells 110, except for the portion where the busbar 510 or the terminalbusbar 520 is joined to the respective electrode leads 111, therebypreventing the occurrence of a short circuit.

On the other hand, as described above, the second busbar frame may belocated on an opposite surface of the battery cell stack 120, and atleast one of the busbar, terminal busbar, and module connector may bemounted onto the second busbar frame. Electrode leads 112 can be joinedto such a busbar.

As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10 , a first venting-preventing part 310Pprotrudes from the first busbar frame 310, and the firstventing-preventing part 310P in a direction between the electrode leads111 of adjacent battery cells 110 among the plurality of battery cells110. A plurality of first venting-preventing part 310P can be providedto protrude in a direction between the respective battery cells 110. Asshown in FIG. 10 , the first venting-preventing part 310P may fill aspace between the electrode leads 111 of adjacent battery cells 110. Inother words, the first venting-preventing part 310P may be positionedadjacent to a terrace part 116 (see FIG. 6 ) of the battery cell 110.

Each of the battery cells 110 may generate a gas inside by adecomposition reaction of a material and a plurality of side reactions.In the case of a battery cell 110 which is a pouch-type secondarybattery, a swelling phenomenon may occur in which the cell case 114 (seeFIG. 6 ) of the laminated sheet is stretched and swells in a convexshape due to the gas generated inside the battery cell 110.

However, when the plurality of battery cells 110 form the battery cellstack 120, it is difficult for the cell body 113 of each of the batterycells 110 to swell because the battery cells 110 are compressed againsteach other. Instead, gas is concentrated in a region corresponding tothe terrace part 116 in the direction in which the electrode leads 111and 112 protrude, and excessive swelling phenomenon may occur in theterrace part 116. The initial sealing of the terrace part 116 may bereleased, and the high-temperature heat, gas, and flame from theplurality of battery cells 110 are usually discharged in the directionin which the electrode leads 111 and 112 protrude (x-axis direction,−x-axis direction, see FIGS. 5 and 7 ).

Therefore, the first busbar frame 310 according to the presentembodiment is provided with a first venting-preventing part 310P, whichcan prevent the gas generated inside the battery cells 110 and theinternal gas caused by the gas from accumulating near the terrace part116, and may serve to guide the venting gas and the flame to bedischarged in a desired direction. That is, the first venting-preventingpart 310P can restrict the high-temperature heat, gas, and flame causedfrom the battery cells 110 from being discharged in the direction inwhich the first busbar frame 310 and the first end plate 410 arelocated.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 , an opening in which at least one ofthe terminal busbar and the module connector is exposed can be formed inthe first end plate 410 according to the present embodiment. The openingmay be a terminal busbar opening or a module connector opening. In oneexample, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , a terminal busbar opening 410Hwhere the terminal busbar 520 is exposed can be formed in the first endplate 410. The terminal busbar 520 further includes an upwardlyprotruding portion compared with the busbar 510. Such upwardlyprotruding portion may be exposed to the outside of the battery module100 a via the terminal busbar opening 410H. The terminal busbar 520exposed via the terminal busbar opening 410H may be connected to anotherbattery module or a battery disconnect unit (BDU) to form a high voltage(HV) connection. FIGS. 4 and 5 are exemplary structures, and a moduleconnector may be mounted onto the first busbar frame 310 according toanother embodiment of the present disclosure, whereby the moduleconnector opening may be formed in the first end plate 410.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the second end plate of the batterymodule of FIG. 4 when viewed from the front at different angles.

As illustrated in FIG. 11 , an opening where at least one of a terminalbusbar and a module connector is exposed may be formed in the second endplate 420 according to the present embodiment. The opening may be aterminal busbar opening or a module connector opening. As an example, asshown in FIG. 11 , a module connector opening 420H where the moduleconnector 600 is exposed may be formed in the second end plate 420. Thismeans that the module connector 600 is mounted on the above-mentionedsecond busbar frame. However, FIG. 11 is an exemplary structure, andaccording to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a terminalbusbar may be mounted onto the second busbar frame, whereby a terminalbusbar opening may be formed in the second end plate 420.

Meanwhile, although not specifically shown in the figure, the moduleconnector 600 can be connected to a temperature sensor, a voltagemeasuring member, or the like provided inside the battery module 100 a.Such a module connector 600 is connected to an external BMS (batterymanagement system) to form an LV (Low voltage) connection, and itperforms a function of transmitting temperature information, voltagelevel and the like measured by the temperature sensor or the voltagemeasuring member to the external BMS.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 , in the case of the conventional batterymodule 10, high-temperature heat, gas, flame, and the like ejectedthrough the openings 41H and 42H of the battery module 10 may affectadjacent battery modules 10. In particular, adjacent battery modules 10with terminal busbars facing each other for HV connection may causedamage to the terminal bus bar or other electrical components includingthe battery cell 11.

Unlike the conventional case, the battery module 100 a according to thepresent embodiment includes the first venting-preventing part 310Pformed on the first busbar frame 310, and thus can restrict thehigh-temperature heat, gas and flame, and the like emitted from thebattery cell 110 from being discharged through the opening of the firstend plate 410, for example, the terminal busbar opening 410H. Thereby,damage to adjacent battery modules and HV connection structures can begreatly reduced.

As the gas discharge is suppressed by the first venting-preventing part310P, heat, gas and flame, and the like inside the battery module 100 amay be discharged in the −x-axis direction through an opening formed inthe second end plate 420, for example, through the module connectoropening 420H (see FIG. 11 ). That is, as an exemplary form, flamediffusion and the like can be minimized by guiding a venting gas and aflame in the direction of the LV connection structure instead of thedirection of the HV connection structure. In this case, the terminalbusbar opening 410H and the module connector opening 420H may be formedin mutually opposite directions with respect to the battery module 100 ato set the venting gas discharge path as above.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a battery module according to amodified embodiment of the present disclosure. In particular, theappearance of the second end plate facing forward is similar to that inFIG. 11 .

As illustrated in FIG. 12 , the battery module 100 b according to amodified embodiment of the present disclosure may include a housing 200,a first end plate 410 and a second end plate 420. The battery module 100b according to the present embodiment may include a first busbar frameincluding a first venting-preventing part, similar to the battery module100 a described above. A detailed description will be omitted because itoverlaps with those described above.

At this time, a venting hole 420VH may be formed in the second end plate420 according to the present embodiment. Further, an insulating cover800 may be located between the second busbar frame and the second endplate 420, and in such an insulating cover 800, a venting hole may besimilarly formed in a portion corresponding to the venting hole 420VH ofthe second end plate 420.

In the present embodiment, the venting hole 420VH is formed in thesecond end plate 420 together with the configuration of the firstventing-preventing part described above, whereby the gas whose dischargeis restricted by the first venting-preventing part can be guided to bedischarged through the venting hole 420VH. That is, as an example, asshown in FIG. 12 , heat, gas, and flame inside the battery module 100 bcan be discharged in the −x-axis direction not only through the moduleconnector opening 420H but also through the venting hole 420VH formed inthe second end plate 420. FIG. 12 shows that the four venting holes420VH are formed along the z-axis direction, but the number or shapethereof is not particularly limited.

On the other hand, as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 , the firstventing-preventing part 310P may have a kind of an arrow shape or ablock shape that occupies a certain space. The arrow shape means aconfiguration in which a plate-shaped member is extended and two curvedmembers are extended from one end of the plate-shaped member, similarlyto the first venting-preventing part 310P located at the extreme end ofthe y-axis direction in FIG. 9 . The block shape means a bulky andprotruding configuration that occupies a certain space between theelectrode leads 111, similarly to the first venting-preventing part 310Plocated on the first venting-preventing part 310P in the form of anarrow in FIG. 9 . These first venting-preventing parts 310P areexemplary structures, and if they are formed in a shape corresponding totheir shape between the electrode leads 111 of the battery cells 110 andthe gas path can be restricted, the shape thereof is not particularlylimited.

Next, a battery module 100 c according to a modified embodiment of thepresent disclosure will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.13 and 14 .

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a battery module according to amodified embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 14 is a perspectiveview of a first busbar frame, a second busbar frame, and a battery cellstack included in the battery module of FIG. 13 .

The battery module 100 c according to a modified embodiment of thepresent disclosure may include a battery cell stack 120 in which aplurality of battery cells 110 are stacked, a first end plate 410, asecond end plate 420 and a housing 200. The first end plate 410 may bejoined to the housing 200 while covering the first busbar frame 310, andthe second end plate 420 may be joined to the housing 200 while coveringthe second busbar frame 320.

The battery module 100 c according to this embodiment may include afirst busbar frame 310 arranged on one surface of the battery cell stack120 in a direction (x-axis direction) of protrusion of the electrodeleads 111, and a second busbar frame 320 arranged on the other surfaceof the battery cell stack 120 in a direction (−x-axis direction) ofprotrusion of the electrode leads 112. That is, the first busbar frame310 may be located between the first end plate 410 and the battery cellstack 120, and a second busbar frame 320 may be located between thesecond end plate 420 and the battery cell stack 120. At least one of abusbar, a terminal busbar, and a module connector may be mounted ontothe first busbar frame 310, and at least one of a busbar, a terminalbusbar, and a module connector may also be mounted onto the second busbar frame 320. As an example, the busbar 510 and the terminal busbar 520may be mounted onto the first busbar frame 310. Although notspecifically shown in the figure, a busbar and a module connector 600(see FIG. 11 or 12 ) may be mounted onto the second busbar frame 320.Each of the electrode leads 111 protruding in the x-axis direction isbent after passing through the slit formed in the first busbar frame 310and can be joined to the busbar 510 or the terminal busbar 520, and eachof the electrode leads 112 protruding in the −x-axis direction is bentafter passing through a slit formed in the second busbar frame 320 andcan be joined to the busbar.

The first busbar frame 310 may include a first venting-preventing part310P protruding in a direction between the electrode leads 111 ofadjacent battery cells 110 among the plurality of battery cells 110. Thesecond busbar frame 320 may include a second venting-preventing part320P protruding in a direction between the electrode leads 112 of theadjacent battery cells 110 among the plurality of battery cells 110.That is, the first venting-preventing part 310P may be formed on thesurface of the first busbar frame 310 that faces the battery cell stack120, and a second venting-preventing part 320P may be formed on asurface of the second busbar frame 320 that faces the battery cell stack120. Specific structures of the first venting-preventing part 310P andthe second venting-preventing part 320P may be similar to or identicalto those described above with reference to FIGS. 7 to 10 . A detaileddescription will be omitted since it overlaps with those describedabove.

Each of the first end plate 410 and the second end plate 420 may beformed with an opening wherein at least one of the terminal busbar andthe module connector is exposed. The opening may be a terminal busbaropening or a module connector opening. As an example, a terminal busbaropening 410H where the terminal busbar 520 is exposed may be formed inthe first end plate 410, and a module connector opening 420H (see FIG.11 or FIG. 12 ) where the module connector is exposed may be formed inthe second end plate 420. The battery module 100 c according to thepresent embodiment is provided with a first busbar frame 310 in which afirst venting-preventing part 310P is formed and a second busbar frame320 in which a second venting-preventing part 320P is formed, whereby itis possible to suppress the high temperature heat, gas, flame, and thelike discharged through the terminal busbar opening 410H or the moduleconnector opening 420H. That is, it is possible to minimize thedischarge of venting gas and flames in both the direction of the HVconnection structure and the direction of the LV connection structure.

A gas discharge port 200H may be formed on the upper surface of thehousing 200 according to the present embodiment. In particular, aplurality of gas discharge ports 200H may be arranged at regularintervals and distributed over the entire upper surface of the housing200. The venting gas or flame generated inside the battery module 100 cis not discharged toward the first end plate 410 or the second end plate420 by the first venting-preventing part 310P and the secondventing-preventing part 320P, and instead, it may be discharged in theupper direction (z-axis direction) of the battery module 100 c throughthe gas discharge port 200H. As described above, the battery module 100c according to the present embodiment includes the housing 200 in whichthe first venting-preventing part 310P, the second venting-preventingpart 320P and the gas discharge port 200H are formed, whereby theinfluence of venting gas or flame on adjacent battery modules can beminimized, and flame diffusion can be effectively suppressed.

FIG. 15 is a partial plan view of a first busbar frame to which acushioning member is attached according to a modified embodiment of thepresent disclosure. In particular, FIG. 15 shows the first busbar frame310 at the same angle as FIGS. 9 and 10 .

As illustrated in FIG. 15 , the first busbar frame 310 may include acushioning member 700 attached to a surface of the firstventing-preventing part 310P facing the battery cells 110. By attachingthe cushioning member 700, it is possible to absorb the tolerances ofindividual members and the assembling tolerance, and to absorb physicaldamage that may occur when a portion of the first busbar frame 310directly contacts the battery cell 110. The cushioning member 700 mayinclude at least one of PU (polyurethane) foam and silicone foam.

On the other hand, according to another embodiment of the presentdisclosure, in consideration of the tolerance of individual members orthe prevention of physical damage, the first venting-presenting part310P may be arranged to have a predetermined distance from the batterycells 110.

The terms representing directions such as the front side, the rear side,the left side, the right side, the upper side, and the lower side havebeen used in embodiments of the present disclosure, but the terms usedare provided simply for convenience of description and may becomedifferent according to the position of an object, the position of anobserver, or the like.

The one or more battery modules according to embodiments of the presentdisclosure described above can be mounted together with various controland protection systems such as a battery management system (BMS) and acooling system to form a battery pack.

The battery module or the battery pack can be applied to variousdevices. For example, it can be applied to vehicle means such as anelectric bike, an electric vehicle, and a hybrid electric vehicle, andmay be applied to various devices capable of using a secondary battery,without being limited thereto.

The present disclosure has been described in detail with reference toexemplary embodiments thereof, but the scope of the present disclosureis not limited thereto and modifications and improvements made by thoseskilled in the part by using the basic concept of the presentdisclosure, which are defined in the following claims, also belong tothe scope of the present disclosure.

1. A battery module comprising: a battery cell stack comprising aplurality of battery cells, wherein each of the plurality of batterycells comprises a pair of electrode leads protruding in oppositedirections; a housing for the battery cell stack; and a first busbarframe arranged on a first surface of the battery cell stack in a firstprotruding direction of the electrode leads, wherein the first busbarframe comprises a first venting-preventing part protruding between theelectrode leads of adjacent battery cells of the plurality of batterycells.
 2. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein: the firstventing-preventing part fills a space between corresponding electrodeleads of adjacent battery cells.
 3. The battery module according toclaim 1, wherein: the first busbar frame comprises a cushioning memberattached to a surface of the first venting-preventing part facing thebattery cell stack.
 4. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein:the first busbar frame further comprises at least one of a busbar, aterminal busbar, and a module connector mounted on the first busbarframe.
 5. The battery module according to claim 4, wherein: the batterymodule further comprises a first end plate covering the first busbarframe, the first end plate is joined to the housing, and the first endplate comprises an opening where at least one of the terminal busbar andthe module connector is exposed.
 6. The battery module according toclaim 1, wherein: the battery module further comprises a second busbarframe arranged on a second surface of the battery cell stack, whereinthe second surface is in a second protruding direction of the electrodeleads, and the second protruding direction is opposite to the firstprotruding direction of the electrode leads.
 7. The battery moduleaccording to claim 6, wherein: the second busbar frame comprises atleast one of a busbar, a terminal busbar, and a module connector mountedon the second busbar frame.
 8. The battery module according to claim 7,wherein: the battery module further comprises a second end platecovering the second busbar frame, and the second end plate comprises anopening where at least one of the terminal busbar and the moduleconnector is exposed.
 9. The battery module according to claim 7,wherein: the battery module further comprises a second end plate thatcovering the second busbar frame, the second end plate is joined to thehousing, and the second end plate comprises a venting hole for gasdischarge.
 10. The battery module according to claim 6, wherein: thesecond busbar frame comprises a second venting-preventing part thatprotrudes in a direction between the electrode leads of adjacent batterycells of the plurality of battery cells.
 11. The battery moduleaccording to claim 10, wherein: the second busbar frame comprises atleast one of a busbar, a terminal busbar, and a module connector mountedon the second busbar frame.
 12. The battery module according to claim11, wherein: the battery module further comprises a second end platecovering the second busbar frame, the second end plate is joined to thehousing, and the second end plate comprises an opening where at leastone of the terminal busbar and the module connector is exposed.
 13. Thebattery module according to claim 1, wherein: the upper surface of thehousing comprises a gas discharge port.
 14. A battery pack comprisingthe battery module according to claim 1.